I'm thinking of booking a week in Corfu at Easter next year. We have always visited for 2 weeks in July previously, and stayed in Kassiopi / Ag Stef / Kalami.

I have checked the dates of Greek Easter and also what temperatures to expect. I wonder if any of you can advise what to expect in terms of what might be open, weather, celebrations, and anything else? I've always fancied seeing the place at Easter, because I know the Greeks make a big deal out of this festival. Thanks

The biggest celebrations are in town. But most towns and villages have their own mass on Saturday night when at midnight the place erupts with everyone greeting everyone else with the greeting Christos Anesti (Christ is Risen) the responce is Alithos Anesti (He is truly risen). Everyone lights their special Easter candle from their neighbours flame. Then you try to get home with the candle still alight to mark a sooty cross under your front door lintle. If your really lucky?? You might be invited to eat maioretsi(spelling?) Soup in someone's house.The next day, Sunday, many of the tavernas that have bothered to open will offer traditional lamb on the spit cooked slowly over charcoal. We spent Easter Sunday at Monolith above Acharavi this year.Next year we may be doing something completely different.Bob.

I was sailing around the northern Ionion at Easter. It was facinating to see all of the celebrations (probably not as massive as Bob describes) and somewhat exhausting. We were in Sivota/Moutos on Saturday night and the fireworks didn't finish until about 5am!.

However, despite the fact that the tourist season had already started, many of the bars and tavernas closed early so that the staff could go to church. On Sunday were moved on to Lakka (Paxos) and few of the bars and tavernas opened at all.

This may welll be restricted to the smaller islands - but it may be something to bear in mind.

No Martyn, even in Acharavi, many of the bars and tavernas only opened for a short while on Sunday morning, till about 1or2.However, those tavernas that did open for Sunday lunch, although largely prebooked with large family groups, there was always room made for casual costomers.Bob.

D&D, Google Easter Celebrations in Corfu Town, you will get a good idea of what goes on, as well as times. Most seem to be on Saturday, the pot smashing, now apparently orchestrated for the benefit of the television.Bob

Hi D&D, We were in Kassiopi this year for 2 weeks 29/04/13 till the 13/05/13 Easter was 4 weeks after the UK and had a fantastic time, the celebrations went on for 2 days and nights, fire works and dancing in the harbour and processions round the village. If you go to Corfu town it gets really hectic, the weather was good only 2 days of rainstorms, Easter in Greece is something every body that likes Greece should do!!!Have A good time wherever you go???Yamas

We did Greek Easter this year. That is a brilliant video, and brings back loads of memories. It is the first time we have been for Easter, and that early to Corfu. The island is so different from summer or late season.

We stayed as usual in Benitses, at Argo, and took part in all the celebrations there. We did get the first bus into town on the Saturday. We thought we were early, but it was already packed.

We got a spot opposite the McDonalds, just where the main pot throwing is. We saw all the processions and St Spiridon and then the pot throwing at 11am. It was packed but you really need be there to see it. The entire green and cricket pitch right up to the castle gets packed. Spiridon is paraded right round the road and back into town from the other end.

We shared the soup. Got to be tried!! and had spit roast lamb on the Sunday.

The weather was lovely, but it was a later Easter, May, and managed to stretch the break to take in my birthday.

Hello, have you booked yet? We were also sailing around at Easter. It was a lovely time of year to visit...can't wait for this years celebrations. Corfu town is where all the fireworks & pot smashing happens but all over Corfu you will see celebrations going on. We were in Paxos on the Friday in Lakka bay...there was a wonderful procession of church goers with candles came down past Harbour Lights bar at midnight. We were in a small fishing village on Sunday Petriti & even there there was a big procession where all the fishing boats were blessed. Everyone made us feel so welcome and the smell of lamb all day was just amazing!

Martyn, I'll give you an update of the situation at S/S in April with regards to moorings etc: no doubt we will have a struggle to hang on to our favoured spot on the wall this year, I'll get Harris to chuck the boat in as soon as we arrive and give her a bit of a paint.Bob.

Martyn, I'll give you an update of the situation at S/S in April with regards to moorings etc: no doubt we will have a struggle to hang on to our favoured spot on the wall this year, I'll get Harris to chuck the boat in as soon as we arrive and give her a bit of a paint.Bob.

With the extra boat taxes (high) and a lot of the yachts abandoning Greece as a result, you may have even more choice of moorings

Hi,We have booked for Easter this year as my birthday is on Easter Sunday(20th April). I have always wanted to spend Easter in Corfu as I have heard it is the best place to go because of the great celebrations. We leave on the 13th April till the 22nd April staying in our usual place Paleokastritsa, but different apartments. We are staying at the Felicity Balis (I think that's how you spell it).

Looking forward so much to spending Easter in Corfu as we love Corfu so much.

The increased fees, as I understand it, will apply to both foreign and Greek boats so it will remain to be seen how many charters stay in Greece or move elsewhere.

Susie

My own view (for what it is worth) is that the impact upon the Greek based charter businesses may not be too bad, given that the tax for a 40ft yacht is going to be 400 Euros per year, or about 15 euros per week during the sailing season (May to October). The increase in Charter rates won't be too great. Bear in mind that both Albania and Croatia already have a similar tax.

Where the tax will (or is more likely to) hit is on those non Greek nationals who keep their boats in Greece all year round (but perhaps only sail for short periods in Greek waters) or those people who may want to cruise there for only a few weeks per year (e.g Italians sailing over to the Ionion for August each year). I suspect many of these boat owners will abandon Greece completely. (Interestingly, the Harbour Lights webcam in Kassiopi showed a Catamaran in the harbour the other day - I wonder if this was returning to Italy?)

Talking of Italy - the Italian Government intoduced a similar tax (I think in 2011) which had a devestating effect on thelocal sailing industry - particularly in terms of visiting and over-wintering boat; so much so that I understand that the law has now been changed.

We'll be there for our first Greek Easter too. We're staying in Town and hiring a car for a few days to get around and see places we've not been to before, so I've made a start on planning today by marking up all the little villages from Steve Ford's guides on an old tourist map. Once I've got them all on the map, I can then work out the most do-able routes and decide exactly where we want to go. Can't wait!

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